Hybrid war in Eastern Europe: non-military dimension
Hybrid war in Eastern Europe: non-military dimension

Summary/Abstract: The hybrid war plan was implemented on August 14, 2013, when Russia started discriminating against Ukrainian exports, causing economic damage. In 2014 the Kremlin launched the military component of the hybrid aggression and ratcheted up the energy component. The authors analyze the non-military dimension of Russia’s external behavior and conclude that it has been using its energy resources and supply infrastructure to exert pressure on energy dependent countries. The worst scenario was used against Ukraine, and there is information to prove Russia’s intention to block the supply and transit of gas in 2009 in order to annex eastern and southern Ukraine. Events in 2014 are clear signs of the improved energy weaponry used by the Kremlin to achieve its geopolitical goals. The EU and world leaders must adopt a single and united position to counteract Russian hegemony as an energy superpower and bring the aggressor to within acceptable international frameworks. NATO, the European Commission, the IEA, and the Energy Community Treaty Secretariat have to strengthen cooperation in the sphere of energy security, considering it from a security rather than from an economic point of view.

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